A low cost program that links a dual-comet flyby sample-return mission with a multicomet/asteroid tour is proposed. Two spacecraft are used to carry out this program: a three-axis stabilized Observer-class spacecraft and a smaller spin-stabilized sample-return probe. The Observer spacecraft uses earth-swingby and propulsive maneuvers to accomplish the small-body tour, which includes flybys of three comets (Tempel-1, Tempel-2, and Encke) and two asteroids (46-Hestia and 433-Eros) over a 12-year period. Two of these comets (Tempel-1 and Tempel-2) are also the shared targets, the Observer serves as a navigational aid for the probe, which scoops up dust particles as it flies through the cometary atmosphere. After collecting the cometary dust samples, the probe returns to a low earth orbit where it is recovered by the Space Shuttle.
A Voyager-style tour of comets and asteroids 1994-2005
1987-01-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
A Voyager-style tour of comets and asteroids 1994-2005
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